The Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation is a nonprofit organization that's committed to celebrating and saving structures and other historical resources of the Old Pueblo and Pima County.
The foundation, under the leadership of President Demion Clinco, is spearheading several efforts, including a push to repair and save some of Tucson's historical neon signs, a project that's on hold awaiting changes to the city sign code.
The foundation also has recently completed a National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Marist College, an adobe building that went up in 1915 near downtown's St. Augustine Cathedral.
"It's the only example of a three-story adobe building from the early 20th century in the state of Arizona," says Clinco, a Tucson native who owns Frontier Consulting Group.
Formed in 1985, the foundation was dormant during most of the '90s and early 2000s, says Clinco, who was asked to revive the group nearly three years ago.
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Since then, one of his proudest accomplishments was putting together what he calls an "amazing" board of directors.
The upcoming screenings of "The Mine With the Iron Door," a silent film from 1924 that was thought to be lost until recently, will serve as a fundraiser for the foundation.
Proceeds from the Oct. 8 and 10 event at the Rialto Theatre will be split between the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation and the Rialto Theatre Foundation.
Says Clinco: "We're happy that we're able to show a film with such historic ties to Tucson, but also that we are able to raise funds for both foundations.
"Part of the community's identity and a big part of our economic future is historic preservation," he said during a midafternoon interview at the historic Hotel Congress. "This place is a perfect example."
For more information about the foundation and its other projects, go online to tucsonhistoricpreservationfoundation.org
M. Scot Skinner
